QOTD: Michelle Obama

At this point, you’re sure to have seen the exquisite portraits of the Obamas unveiled today at the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, DC. Like the Obamas’ place in history, the portraits represent a vibrant, exhilarating departure from a largely homogenous historical visage.

Michelle Obama, in her typical, steady Obama-ness, gave us pause and hope when she reflected on what young girls and future generations will see when they see their portraits. It’s my quote of the day, and it should be yours, too.

“I’m also thinking about all the young people, particularly girls and girls of color who in years ahead will come to this place and they will look up and they will see an image of someone who looks like them hanging on the wall of this great American institution. And I know the kind of impact that will have on their lives, because I was one of those girls. And when I think about those future generations and those generations passed, I think ‘wow, wow. What an incredible journey we are on together in this country.'”

We have come so far, and yes, as we see today we still have a lot more work to do but we have every reason to be hopeful and proud.